Lok Sabha Expands Supreme Court Bench Amid Heated Parliamentary Standoff
The Lok Sabha passed legislation to increase the Supreme Court's judicial capacity while bypassing floor debate during intense Opposition protests. The session also saw the introduction of two separate bills concerning banking evidence and statistical governance.
Key takeaways
- The Supreme Court's sanctioned strength officially rises from 34 to 38 judges to address a backlog of over 92,000 pending cases.
- The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, passed by voice vote without floor debate during sustained Opposition disruptions.
- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced a bill to allow digital and cloud-based banking records as valid legal evidence.
- Opposition leaders demanded Home Minister Amit Shah address police actions at Jantar Mantar and alleged fund embezzlement at the Ram Temple.
- The Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026, was introduced to modernize the institution's governance under a new Board of Governors.
Legislative Progress Amidst Procedural Chaos
In a rapid legislative move on Monday, August 3, 2026, the Lok Sabha approved the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal moved the legislation, which passed via voice vote without the customary floor discussion. This procedural bypass occurred as Opposition members maintained a persistent protest in the Well of the House, demanding government accountability on external issues.
Speaker Om Birla was forced to adjourn proceedings multiple times throughout the day. The friction centered on two main grievances: the police response to student demonstrations at Jantar Mantar and allegations regarding the theft of offerings, or chadhawa chori, at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Despite a statutory resolution from the Opposition seeking to block the move, the House rejected their disapproval by voice vote.
Expanding the Apex Court to Combat Backlogs
The newly passed Bill formalizes an earlier ordinance that raised the Supreme Court's sanctioned strength from 34 to 38 judges, including the Chief Justice of India. Government records indicate that five judges have already taken their seats following the ordinance's promulgation. The primary objective of this expansion is to alleviate a mounting caseload, which stood at 92,101 pending matters as of January 1.
Beyond general case resolution, the administration contends that a larger bench allows the Chief Justice to convene Constitution Benches with greater frequency. The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) had initially set specific timeframes for other debates, but the day's disruptions shifted the focus to immediate passage and introductions.
Modernizing Evidence and Institutional Governance
Between slogans and placards, the government introduced two additional pieces of legislation:
- Bankers’ Books Evidence Bill, 2026: Presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, this bill seeks to replace the 1891 colonial statute. It aims to modernize legal standards by recognizing digital, virtual, and cloud-based banking records as admissible evidence in court.
- Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026: This proposal intends to repeal the 1959 Act, transforming the institute into a statutory body corporate. The restructuring introduces a Board of Governors and an Academic Council to enhance research autonomy and data science capabilities.
During the BAC meeting, Congress deputy leader Gaurav Gogoi and Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav pressured the government for a formal statement from Home Minister Amit Shah regarding police actions. They further sought a discussion on alleged financial irregularities in Ayodhya, requesting an intervention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While these demands remained unresolved, the House moved forward with its legislative agenda before adjourning for the day.
Source: The Hindu — National
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